Be Reconciled
Ephesians 4:25-5:2
In one account of the first century church’s baptism practices, those being baptized at Easter vigil or Easter morning would approach the baptismal pool and strip down to nothing, enter the baptismal waters, and rise to adorned in a new white garment. This practice symbolized dying to the old ways of life and rising in resurrection to new life in Christ. This symbolism is further evident in the shape of the baptismal pool which was sometimes in the shape of a cross or a tomb. Dying to the old ways of living, the newly baptized would then join with the other followers of Christ in a meal and celebration of the eucharistic story.
These same ideas are key components of our own baptismal rite. Here’s our purpose statement when we baptize converts: Through baptism we are brought into union with Christ, with each other, and with the church of every time and place.
Through baptism we are buried with Christ, that we like him, may be raised from the dead to walk in newness of life.Through baptism into Christ God graces us with the gift of the Holy Spirit to forgive our sins, to cleanse us from all wrongs, to clothe us with God’s own righteousness, and to strengthen us all our days. Through baptism into Christ we gain a new identity as sons and daughters of God, and receive a new life-purpose of christlike ministry by word and deed. (Chalice Worship 29).
Our baptisms remind us that we are children of god, adopted and adored from before time and beyond time. So we are reconciled with God in our baptisms. Being reconciled means to live in harmony with God.
The writer of Ephesians recognizes the ways in which our old ways get in the way of our lives of faith. So she reminds us that we have to let them go. Letting go of old ways is always difficult. Especially, we find challenging this practice because the world around us teaches us the opposite - that the purpose of life is obtaining as much and as many as we can. The world teaches us to reach in and take. Our faith teaches us that we let them go so we can imitate the love of God. The life following Jesus, the spiritual life, is mostly about letting go…letting go of what doesn’t matter and letting go of those behaviors that do not imitate God. So, we rise from the baptismal waters to a new way of life that is defined by our loving as God loves.
Reflection Questions:
How does your memory of baptism connect with the practice of the first century church described above?
Where and what tempts you in your life to pursue obtaining and taking instead of letting go?
How does letting go help you imitate God’s love?